first timer - Triathlon Week

breans · 07-11-2006, 08:28 AM

Hi!

I'm completely new to this triathlon thing. I used to swim in high school and in college I have been biking and running just for exercise and fun. I signed up for my first sprint tri, it's in August! I've been training, using a beginner program from this website.

Strangely what I'm really nervous about is being wet while biking and running after the swim! Any tips to make this predicament as comfortable as possible???

hmullett · 07-12-2006, 04:53 AM

breans~
I'm envious of the triathletes with a swim background! That's usually the biggest fear in entering a tri, and you're already over that hump!

As far as being wet for the bike/run...invest in some good tri shorts. There are great websites out there that offer tri clothes, try [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for some discounted prices. Also a tri tank helps. You'll mostly dry off on the bike.

Good luck and welcome to tri!

Heather

breans · 07-12-2006, 05:33 AM

Thanks Heather!

Spike10 · 07-12-2006, 09:42 AM

I use either Sugoi or Zoot tri shorts and both are exelent and I always use a healthy dose of Body Glide before the race, this helps with the wet shorts and sensitive skin on the bike saddle. About 30 seconds into the ride your mind is on the ride, cadance, nutrition, sunglasses, the guy that just passed you, blah blah blah, wet shorts are way down on the list so just have a good time and when the run comes you will wish your shorts were cool like they were earlier in the race.
Good luck and let us know how you did.
Spike.

sfricks · 07-12-2006, 01:59 PM

Welcome on. My $.02 is you're going to sweat anyway, right. It's really not an issue. Just have fun!

breans · 07-12-2006, 06:06 PM

Yeah I knew it was a pretty silly thing to be worring about, but hearing it makes me feel much better. Now I can concentrate more on the actual race huh :p

breans · 07-12-2006, 06:08 PM

I have been checking out those Zoot tri shorts...I'm glad you recomended them!!

For the run what should be my longest distance, before tappering? It's only 2.5 miles, but it's at the end.

hmullett · 07-12-2006, 06:16 PM

Well, it all depends on the distances that you're doing now. Are you doing brick workouts?

Heather

sfricks · 07-13-2006, 02:21 AM

For a sprint you only need 36-48 hours to completely top off your glycogen stores. Just don't do any interval workouts within about 72 hours of the race. You can do light short runs & bikes up to the evening before just to keep the muscles firing. Good luck on your race!

Spike10 · 07-13-2006, 08:27 AM

Do one other thing for yourself, make sure to stretch out for about an hour the night before the race, this will not only relax your whole body but it will make you sleep better and wake up ready to take the tiger by the tail.
Good luck.
Spike.

breans · 07-13-2006, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike10

Do one other thing for yourself, make sure to stretch out for about an hour the night before the race, this will not only relax your whole body but it will make you sleep better and wake up ready to take the tiger by the tail.
Good luck.
Spike.

thanks!!!

gosh i'm getting excited :)

sfricks · 07-13-2006, 12:27 PM

Absolutely stretch but take it easy. You should not feel pain in your stretch. The last thing you want to do is pull a muscle right before the race.

On streching... I read a great post once from a guy training for an Ironman. The guy posted, "I can't even touch my toes". The reply to his concern, "How many times during your Ironman will you be touching your toes?".

breans · 07-13-2006, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfricks

Absolutely stretch but take it easy. You should not feel pain in your stretch. The last thing you want to do is pull a muscle right before the race.

On streching... I read a great post once from a guy training for an Ironman. The guy posted, "I can't even touch my toes". The reply to his concern, "How many times during your Ironman will you be touching your toes?".

i like it!